These 49 parking brake recall campaigns span at least 40 models across 17 different makes, so this is a defect category that turns up right across the industry rather than at any single brand.

This page pulls together every recall we track that involves the parking brake, grouped using NHTSA's own component classification. A recall lands here when the manufacturer or NHTSA traced a safety defect to this system. Pick a model below to see the full recall detail, including the defect, the risk, and the free fix.

Parking Brake recalls by make

Models with the most parking brake recalls

ModelRecalls
Chevrolet Impala3
Ford Explorer3
Chevrolet Blazer EV2
Mitsubishi Outlander2
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport2
Cadillac XTS1
Chevrolet Captiva1
Chevrolet Corvette1
Chevrolet Cruze1
Chrysler 3001
Dodge Challenger1
Dodge Charger1
Dodge Dart1
Ford F-1501
Ford Flex1
Ford Ranger1
Ford Taurus1
Ford Transit1
Honda Civic1
Hyundai Genesis1
Hyundai Ioniq 51
Hyundai Sonata1
Hyundai Veloster1
Kia EV61
Kia EV91
Lincoln Aviator1
Lincoln MKS1
Lincoln MKT1
Mazda Mazda31
Mazda Mazda61
Mercedes-Benz C-Class1
Mercedes-Benz CLE1
Mercedes-Benz E-Class1
Mitsubishi Lancer1
Ram 15001
Smart Fortwo1
Subaru Legacy1
Subaru Outback1
Tesla Model S1
Tesla Model X1

About parking brake recalls

A parking brake recall is one NHTSA has classified under its parking brake component group. That covers any safety defect or standards failure traced to that system, from a single part to a software fault that affects how it behaves. Grouping recalls this way makes it easy to see when the same kind of problem shows up across very different vehicles, which often points to a shared supplier part or a design pattern common to the industry rather than a single bad model.

What to do

If your vehicle is on the list below, or you are worried about the parking brake on a car you own or are about to buy, check it by VIN to see whether a free recall repair is open for that exact vehicle. Recall fixes are done at a franchised dealer at no cost, and most never expire. If you are experiencing a parking brake problem that has not been recalled, filing a complaint with NHTSA helps flag it, since enough reports about the same part can lead to an investigation. The fastest check is a VIN recall lookup.

Common questions about parking brake recalls

Which cars have the most parking brake recalls?
Across the models we track, the most parking brake recalls are on the Chevrolet Impala, Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. A model with more recalls in one area is often a high-volume seller, not necessarily worse than its rivals.
How many parking brake recalls are there?
NHTSA has 49 recall campaigns involving the parking brake on record for 2010 and newer vehicles, led by Chevrolet, Ford, and Mitsubishi.
How do I know if my car has a parking brake recall?
Open your model from the list below to see its parking brake recalls, or enter your 17-digit VIN on the recall check page to see the open recalls for your exact vehicle. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer.

Recall data comes from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, grouped by NHTSA's component classification. See all components, the methodology, and data sources. Reference only, not legal or safety advice.